Photo of Rose Lake, Fresno County, CA

Rose Lake Fishing
Fresno County


Rose Lake Fishing

John Muir Wilderness - Fresno County

Map

Rose Lake is only a little more than a mile off the famous John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail, but most hikers zoom on past it without making the 500-foot-climb detour to this isolated beauty. Fishing is surprisingly good for golden trout in the deep pools leading up to the lake and for brook and rainbows in the broad waters of this high country gem.

Sidetrips

One of the rewards for making it up to the high country around Rose Lake is that there are so many other wonderful destinations to explore within easy hiking distance. Two miles to the southeast on the John Muir Trail is Marie Lake. Even closer, off on a side-trail, is Lou Beverly Lake, which offers good fishing and camping. More lakes and tantalizing streams abound to the east.

Rose Lake, John Muir Wilderness, Fresno County, California

Rose Lake

Other Nearby Featured Trips in
Fresno County:

  • Bear Creek - fishing begins as soon as you hit the trail
  • Evolution Valley - a multi-day backpack trip from Florence Lake to a spot many consider the most beautiful in the Sierra.
  • Graveyard Lakes - basecamp at 9800' and fish all day. Enjoy campfires at night.
  • Sandpiper Lake - beautiful alpine lake above Bear Creek. Multiple other lakes nearby.
  • San Joaquin River - miles of excellent fishing near Florence Lake

Rose Lake Creek, John Muir Wilderness, Fresno County, California

Rose Lake Creek


Recommended Books, Lures, and Flies for Fishing the John Muir Wilderness




Rosemarie Meadow, John Muir Wilderness, Fresno County, California

Rosemarie Meadow


Set Out on Adventure

Fishing in Evolution Valey, Kings Canyon National Park, Caifornia

Evolution Valley, Kings Canyon National Park

A Backpacker's Guide
to California's Most Spectacular
Sierra Nevada Destinations

Making Your Way to Rose Lake

Rose Lake is a 12-mile, two-day hike into the John Muir Wilderness. 4-wheel vehicles are needed to reach the trailhead at the Bear Creek Diversion Dam. Alternate approaches are possible from Lake Edison or even Florence Lake.

For more details about the trailhead at the Bear Creek diversion dam and the hike up Bear Creek, see our Bear Creek page. You'll likely want to plan some time fishing along Bear Creek on your approach hike.

Because of the initial steep climb into the John Muir Wilderness, some people choose to be packed into the back country using the services of the High Sierra Pack Station. A camp along Bear Creek makes a good fishing base camp from which to visit Rose Lake and the many other lakes within easy reach.

Rose Lake sign

For those coming up from the Bear Creek diversion dam, hike up the trail to join the John Muir/Pacific Crest Trail and turn south, heading for Selden Pass. After hiking about four miles south and climbing 1000 feet, you will arrive at Rosemarie Meadow. There a prominent sign points the way to Rose Lake, an easy 500-foot, 1.2-mile trek.

Fishing is good in the deep pools along the way and most places along the shore of Rose Lake, especially around on the eastern side near the inlet stream. Fly fishermen I met coming down from the lake reported catching 9 and 10-inch rainbows.

In My Creel

  • #16 Black Gnat
  • Zebra Midge Fly
  • #14 Brown Elk Caddis
  • Royal Coachman
  • salmon eggs
  • Berkley Power Bait
  • Panther Martin lures

For the small creek pools along Bear Creek and Rose Creek I had great success fishing with several different flies, but the gnat seemed to draw the most attention. Midday at Rose Lake I tried lures without much success and then did better with bait.

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Lodging and Camping

Before or after your wilderness fishing trip to Rose Lake you can find lodging at nearby Vermilion Valley Resort or Mono Hot Springs Resort. Plentiful lodging, including vacation cabin rentals, can also be found at Huntington Lake or Shaver Lake.

Several campgrounds are located in the area: Mono Creek, Mono Hot Springs, Ward Lake, Jackass Meadow, and Bolsillo. Others are found along the way back to Huntington Lake. Fair backpacking campsites can be found among the trees along the eastern side of Rose Lake, but as I mentioned before, I would select a base camp lower down along Bear Creek and use it to explore the more than 30 lakes in the area. Another good alternative is to camp at Lou Beverly Lake, a little more than a half mile off the John Muir Trail.

California's Best Camping

For complete information about more campgrounds in the area, see

California's Best Camping website logo

Fishing Supplies

On your way to the Bear Creek diversion dam trailhead, you can pick up fishing tackle at any of these locations.

  • Fisherman's Warehouse, 4320 W. Shaw Ave, Fresno
  • California Bait and Tackle, 4516 E. Belmont Ave, Fresno
  • Valley Rod and Gun, 2704 Clovis Ave., Clovis
  • Friant Trading Post, 17142 N. Friant, Friant
  • Sierra Anglers, 700 McHenry Ave., Modesto
  • Shaver Lake Marina, Shaver Lake